Kuku Das (Candidate for OSA President) Kuku Das has been a successful entrepreneur, community leader and cultural ambassador of Odisha in Bay Area for more than two decades. She has served twice as the OSA convention cultural chair, Convener of 2010 Convention (San Francisco), Vice President OSA (2011-2013), Coordinator 2013 OSA Award Guideline Review committee, served in 2013 OSA Convention Guideline committee, OSA Grievance committee (2013-2015) and currently the President of OSA California Chapter. Following are a few notable achievements: she is the creative brain behind establishing iGurukul, a center for excellence in learning and human development, she has developed a curriculum for the Odia Language, written, directed and acted in numerous plays. She is instrumental in leading “Let’s Learn Odia” movement at the OSA national level (2010 onwards) and has introduced the Odia Vocabulary and Speech contest during OSA events. She is also recipient of OSA Service Leadership Award (2010 & 2014), and the Kalashree Award (2018). She is the producer of a radio program in California called Aame Odia which propagates Odia culture and gives platform to talents of the diaspora. Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kuku-das-14a06223/ Anil Patnaik (Candidate for OSA Vice-President) Anil is an inspiring, entrepreneurial and highly dedicated community leader, apart from being a successful scientist. He has proven his organizational abilities and dedication to OSA by serving as Co-Convener at Columbus Convention in 2014, and President of OSA-Ohio chapter from 2014-2018. With his leadership in last four years Ohio has become a vibrant OSA chapter; most notable achievements are: Ohio-Odias are grown from about 70 families to 200+ families; organized 3 events per year (each with separate focus: youth, cultural and outdoor), two RDFs, and hosted invited artists from Odisha. He has served in OSA’s higher education and convention guideline committees. He is passionate in singing and an enthusiastic dramatist. He regularly participates in many RDFs, and local musical programs. He is leading a noble effort to build a million-dollar youth cultural center at Dayton for a Sunday school called Youth Group for Indian Culture. Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anil-patnaik-2330b414/

Candidates' Statement of Mission for OSA: We envision an OSA that will support generations to come, we believe that our mission is to synergize, engage, and empower (SEE) tomorrow's Odia leaders and visionaries, which is of utmost importance for a stronger and more advanced organization. We will accomplish this through the following actions: • Connect – transform OSA to be the bridge that connects generations • Outreach – facilitate promotion of Odia culture by developing strategies for cultural events,

encouraging collaboration, and team up with both in-house and Odisha’s cultural icons in this endeavor

• Youth Engagement – encouraging millennials to participate in social and cultural service projects of OSA to increase and diversify the decision making process

• OSA 2.0 – advancing technological interfaces to bring the members for a more connected community